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13 March 2020 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Xolisa Mnukwa
Daniela and Stefan recognised by national quantity surveying organisation
Daniela Da Costa and Stéfan Olivier bagged the DJ Laing Memorial Scholarship for the 2020 academic year from the prestigious Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS).
The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) plays a vital role in the building industry in South Africa and aims to advance and promote the science and practice of Quantity Surveying and cognate matters in the country.

University of the Free State (UFS) second-year Quantity Surveying students, Daniela da Costa and Stéfan Olivier, were awarded DJ Laing Memorial Scholarships for the 2020 academic year by the prestigious association. 

The scholarship advocates for the education and development of Quantity Surveying students by providing those exemplifying academic merit and ongoing dedication to the profession through financial assistance. 

Karl Trusler, Edutech Director for ASAQS, says in addition to being academically strong, both Da Costa and Olivier have demonstrated leadership and good character through their work experience, sports achievements, and community involvement. “We believe that they have the potential to make a great contribution to the future of the Quantity Surveying profession,” he added.

“I was having a pretty bad Monday when I received the call from ASAQS telling me that I had been awarded the scholarship. At that point, I don't think I realised quite what had happened and didn't really have words to describe my happiness,” reflected Olivier. 

He went on to say, “I can only hope that it will show people that I am a hardworking, dedicated, and trustworthy person.” Governed by his practical and problem-solving mind, Olivier believes that he will make an excellent quantity surveyor one day. 
Fellow scholarship recipient Da Costa says she would like to break the glass ceiling in her career and encourage young girls to pursue their education in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field. 

Da Costa described the qualities which set her apart from others as her intellectual curiosity. “I am enthusiastic about attaining knowledge about every subject matter possible, which creates a genuine interest in Quantity Surveying,” she explained.
Trusler further mentioned that ASAQS has a free student membership category. He encouraged Kovsies studying towards a Quantity Surveying qualification to join the association to enjoy the wide range of resources and opportunities available to them.

News Archive

Fracking in the Karoo has advantages and disadvantages
2012-05-25

 

Dr Danie Vermeulen
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar
25 May 2012

Fracking for shale gas in the Karoo was laid bare during a public lecture by Dr Danie Vermeulen, Director of the Institute for Groundwater Studies (IGS). He shared facts, figures and research with his audience. No “yes” or “no” vote was cast. The audience was left to decide for itself.

The exploitation of shale gas in the pristine Karoo has probably been one of the most debated issues in South Africa since 2011.
 
Dr Vermeulen’s lecture, “The shale gas story in the Karoo: both sides of the coin”, was the first in a series presented by the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science under the theme “Sustainability”. Dr Vermeulen is a trained geo-hydrologist and geologist. He has been involved in fracking in South Africa since the debate started. He went on a study tour to the USA in 2011 to learn more about fracking and he visited the USA to further his investigation in May 2012.
 
Some of the information he shared, includes:

- It is estimated that South Africa has the fifth-largest shale-gas reserves in the world, following on China, the USA, Argentina and Mexico.
- Flow-back water is stored in sealed tanks and not in flow-back dams.
- Fracturing will not contaminate the water in an area, as the drilling of the wells will go far deeper than the groundwater aquifers. Every well has four steel casings – one within the other – with the gaps between them sealed with cement.
- More than a million hydraulic fracturing simulations took place in the USA without compromising fresh groundwater. The surface activities can cause problems because that is where man-made and managerial operations could cause pollution.
- Water use for shale-gas exploration is lower than for other kinds of energy, but the fact that the Karoo is an arid region makes the use of groundwater a sensitive issue. Dr Vermeulen highlighted this aspect as his major concern regarding shale-gas exploration.
- The cost to develop is a quarter of the cost for an oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Dolerite intrusions in the Karoo are an unresearched concern. Dolerite is unique to the South African situation. Dolerite intrusion temperatures exceed 900 °C.

He also addressed the shale-gas footprint, well decommissioning and site reclamation, radio activity in the shale and the low possibility of seismic events.
 
Dr Vermeulen said South Africa is a net importer of energy. About 90% of its power supply is coal-based. For continued economic growth, South Africa needs a stable energy supply. It is also forecast that energy demand in South Africa is growing faster than the average global demand.
 
Unknowns to be addressed in research and exploration are the gas reserves and gas needs of South Africa. Do we have enough water? What will be the visual and social impact? Who must do the exploration?
 
“Only exploration will give us these answers,” Dr Vermeulen said.

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